Access to location
Known as the Green Island, this is the biggest island of the Azores. It is about 54 miles away from its nearest neighbour, the island of Santa Maria, and about two times that distance from the closest island of the central group, Terceira.
Best time to visit location
São Miguel offers divers a great variety of sites and is easily accessible, with daily nonstop flights and a fascinating city base full of history and interesting monuments. Among the many coastal dive sites the ‘Dori’ shipwreck is undoubtedly the highlight. This Liberty ship from World War II rests on a sandy seafloor at an ideal depth for diving, just a few minutes away from the city of Ponta Delgada.
Between may and september
Information about the site
This dive site is only recommended for experienced divers. The top of the reef is 24 metres deep, and the strong currents that can occur at this site make the dive more complex. It is a great spot for technical dives as the seafloor is at a depth of 60 metres.
Located about two nautical miles west of the island of São Miguel, and 13 miles from the Ponta Delgada Marina, the Baixa dos Lourenços (Lourenços Reef) is one of the best dives for observing pelagic fish such as yellowmouth barracudas (Sphyraena viridensis), Almaco jacks (Seriola rivoliana), white trevallies (Pseudocaranx dentex) and even devil rays (Mobula tarapacana) during the summer months.
Along the top of the reef, between 24 and 30 metres, you can see an abundance of demersal species, such as large red scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa), lying still over the rocks. There are also several species of moray eels. The edges of the reef are the ideal place for spotting schools of pelagic species.
Conditions around the site
IDEAL PLACE FOR
Diving Technical
Underwater photography
DIVING EXPERIENCE
Advanced Open Water
Recommended diver experience level
Experienced diverExperienced diver,Experienced rescue diver or dive master with about 150 to 500 dives